Video games have come a long way since Pong and are quickly encroaching on
the high-definition environment. This isn’t all that surprising when you
consider that both computer software and video game software sales now surpass
domestic movie box-office sales and that, according to the Entertainment
Software Association (ESA), the average gamer is 29 years old. That’s
right, 29. Something to keep in mind the next time your spouse or significant
other suggests that by playing video games you are acting like a child. (Of
course, if you are older than 29, you are going to want to round that stat up
accordingly.)
The increase in sales of interactive software is, in
large part, the result of better hardware, which makes for better, more
interesting games. Faster, cheaper processors enable manufacturers and
developers to let loose their imaginations, or as is more often the case,
release frustrations from their dark souls. Today the hardware found in such
video-game consoles as Microsoft’s Xbox is comparable to that found in a
PC—an amazing feat given that consoles range in price from $100 to $300.
To
help you make sense of your high-tech gaming options, we looked at the three
major game consoles on the market—Xbox, Nintendo’s GameCube and Sony’s
PlayStation 2—and some high-definition software that may look good on your
high-resolution display.
Nintendo GameCubeThe compact Nintendo GameCube, introduced in late
2001, is, as its name suggests, shaped like a cube. Games come on mini 1.5-GB
disks, and GameCube can transfer data very quickly, lessening load times. For
those of us with more than two friends, GameCube sports four controller ports,
plus expansion ports for add-ons like a broadband adapter or 56K modem for
online gaming. Unlike competing consoles, GameCube lacks a built-in DVD player.
(You’d be surprised how many people actually use their game console as a DVD
player. I know, not ideal.)
